System of a Down
The Armenian funk-rock quartet who came to limelight with their album Toxicity, regarded as one of the best albums of 2001, are here to perform on the main stage just before Metallica. They arrive on the stage with guitarist Daron sporting a new Jesus-like beard. Without a single word they launch in to Needles and go forward to play everything from "Aerials" to "War".
Considering that the band were almost unknown two years ago when they graced the Carling Weekend 2001 they now have two more albums to source their live set from and do it well mixing all of their tracks in a true System style. They are an act that leave the audience thinking and do not simply expect you to enjoy the music and go without thinking a single thing.
The crowd is one of the most intense of the festival so far with thousands of fans singing out to their songs. The most unique band in alternative music at the moment, yet their set fails to interact with the crowd as well as it might - possibly due to rumours of "over-excitement" of the crowd at Leeds earlier in the weekend, or possibly just not their best night.
Irrespective of any lacking aspects of the performance every person in the arena is wowed by the performance and in the mood for Metallica.